Beatrice Black BearThe World's Wettest Dam Photographer

by John Grandits, illustrated by Brian Floca

Image: There is a picture of a bear, with a camera, standing at the base of a large dam and gesturing towards the top.

Bear says, “I'm taking pictures at Lake Powell in Arizona. That huge wall is a dam built across the Colorado River. It holds back the water to create the lake.

“Dams do a lot of work. They help make electricity, and people use lake water for drinking and farming.”

Image: There is a picture of a bear with swimming goggles, and overlays of a person sailboarding, and of three children playing in the water.

Bear says, “But when the work is done, it's time for fun! The lake is great for sailboarding… or swimming with your friends.”

Image: There is picture of a bear water skiing in a human pyramid. The women on the bear's shoulders have started to fall.

Bear says, “Water skiing is the best, but it's not as easy as it looks!”

Activity

What did building a dam across the Colorado River do to the river?[anno: It held back part of the river and made a lake.]

Why is there a dam across the Colorado River?[anno: The dam helps make electricity. The lake provides people with fresh water for drinking and farming.]

What would it be like to visit a dam? Write a sentence or two to tell what it might be like to visit a dam. What would you see and hear? If you have visited a dam, write about what it was like.[anno: Answers will vary. Students may write about seeing a lot of water and hearing a rush of water when the dam is opened.]